Fugitive Marucci Captured

Nineteen-year-old fugitive Michael Marucci was captured yesterday afternoon after almost 27 hours on the run when an Allentown K-9 officer traced him to an E. Turner Street address.

Marucci escaped Friday from the custody of two Lehigh County sheriff's deputies while attending funeral services for his 11-year-old brother, Jason. Marucci had been in jail since July 10 pending trial on theft charges.

Officer Claude S. Rone said he received a tip from someone saying he saw Marucci in the woods near N. Bradford Street.

He gave this account of Marucci's capture:

"I entered the woods and saw some children playing. I asked if they had seen anyone go past them recently, and they pointed to where they saw him (Marucci) go." The children pointed to a house on the far end of E. Turner Street, according to Rone.

"I went up to the house (at 219 E. Turner St.) and asked the occupants if anyone had come by there. They said yes and said he was inside."

Rone said he entered the house and Marucci was sitting on the couch. "He gave me a phony name, so I informed him that he matched the description of a escaped prisoner, and he said that he was the prisoner."

According to Rone, Marucci did not attempt to escape again and did not resist arrest.

"I put the handcuffs on him, and my dog and I escorted him out to the curb, where a unit came and picked him up."

Marucci was taken back to Lehigh County Prison, where a charge of escape will be added to other pending charges.